Liquid measuring means



Nov. 20, 1962 R. A. PETRUSEK LIQUID MEASURING MEANS Original Filed Oct.9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mkwis Robert A. Perrusek IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 20, 1962 R- A. PETRUSEK 3,064,359

LIQUID MEASURING MEANS Original Filed Oct. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.3

Fig.2

Raberf A. Pefrusek IN VEN TOR. BY

ATTORNEYS United The present invention relates to liquid measuringmeans, and more particularly, to means designed automatically to measureout a predetermined quantity of liquid.

The present application is a division of my prior copending applicationSerial No. 614,894, filed October 9, 1956, now Patent No. 2,971,647, ofFebruary 14, 1961.

It is an object of the present invention to provide measuring means ofthe type aforesaid comprising a reservoir, a vent tube connected to theinterior of said reservoir and extending upwardly along the outside ofthe reservoir to a float chamber including a switch actuating float.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide areservoir, a valve controlling flow of liquid into the reservoir, afloat movable in accordance with the level of liquid in the reservoir,and a circuit for controlling said valve including a switch actuated bysaid float when the level of liquid in said reservoir reaches apredetermined level.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provideliquid measuring apparatus including a closed reservoir having a fluidconnection to the bottom thereof, a float chamber located laterally fromsaid reservoir and having a fluid connection thereto, an air vent forsaid float chamber, a float in said chamber, switch means adapted to beactuated by said float upon attainment of a predetermined liquid levelin said reservoir, and means including said switch for terminating theaddition of water to said reservoir when the liquid therein reaches apredetermined level.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system which includes liquidmeasuring apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22, FIGURE 1, showinga syphon used in the complete system.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3, FIGURE 1. 7

While the liquid measuring apparatus of the present invention is capableof many diverse uses, a typical use is in a system devised for removingclay particles from a mixture of clay and sand, and the liquid measuringapparatus will be described in conjunction with this system. i Thedetermination of clay content of molding sand in foundries and foundrylaboratories is performed by the use of Standard American FoundrySociety clay content testers. Clay is defined by the American FoundrySociety as anything that will not settle in still water at a rate fasterthan one inch per minute. In using the standard clay content tester, asample of molding sand is placed in a dry cylinder and suitabledistilled water is added to fill the cylinder to a proper height. Themixture of clay, sand and water is agitated and allowed to settle for asuitable period. At the end of this period, the laboratory technicianperforming the test syphons off a suitable amount of the fluid,depending on the period during which the mixture has been allowed tosettle, and then refills Fatent Patented Nov. 20, 1962 the cylinder to aproper height and subsequently allows the mixture to again settle.Suflicient stirring action is accomplished by the water as it is pouredinto the cylinder. At the end of the next interval, water is againsyphoned off and more water is added. This cycle of pouring distilledwater into the cylinder, allowing the mixture of sand, clay and water tosettle for a period and then syphoning off a suitable amount of thewater and starting the cycle over continues until the mixture is clear,not murky. This phase of the test may require a considerable expenditureof time and effort on the part of the laboratory technician whosepresence is necessary for correct timing and syphoning action. Once themixture is clear, the excess water is drawn 011 and the sand dried andweighed. The loss in weight is reported as clay content. The presentinvention eliminates the necessity for the presence of the laboratorytechnician during the various cycles of adding water and then syphoningthe water oil.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with the measuringreservoir and controls therefor. However, for a full understanding, theentire system will be briefly described.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,and with initial attention directed to FIGURE 1, it will be noted thatthere is provided an intake conduit 10 which is adapted to be connectedthrough a rubber hose 12 or any other suitable connector to a source ofdistilled water such as a water jug or the like. A solenoid actuatedvalve 14 is provided in the conduit 10 for controlling the flow of fluidthrough the conduit It) to a closed reservoir 16. The solenoid typevalve 14 is of conventional construction and is controlled -by means ofexcitation of coil 18.

When the valve 14 is opened, flow of fluid through the conduit 10 willcause the reservoir 16 to become filled. Entrapped air in the reservoir16 will pass out through conduit 21 and thence out of an opening, as at22, formed in a valve actuator 24 to which the conduit 20 is connected.As can be seen best in FIGURE 3, the valve actuator 24 includes ahousing 26 having a float 28 mounted therein. The float, as clearlyillustrated in FIG- URE 3, has a horizontal cross-sectional area onlyslightly less than that of the float housing. There is also provided amicro-switch 36 which is operated upon the rise of the float 28. When,by gravity flow through the conduit 10, the reservoir 16 becomes filledwith fluid, the fluid will flow through the conduit 2i) and into thehousing 26, causing the float 28 to rise and actuating the micro-switch30. When the microswitch 30 is actuated, the circuit through the coil 18will be interrupted closing the valve '14, cutting ot'r" the flow ofdistilled water into the reservoir 16 and into the housing 26.

Connecting the reservoir 16 with a receptacle 32 formed by the StandardAmerican Foundrymen Society tester is a conduit 34. The receptacle 32 islocated directly below the outlet of the conduit 34. A solenoid valve36, similar to the solenoid valve 14 and controlled by excitation of thecoil 38, controls flow of fluid through the conduit 34 and, like thevalve 14, the valve 36 is controlled by any suitable timing means, suchas the timer d0. When the proper time arrives to fill the receptacle 32,the timer 40 opens the solenoid valve 36 and distilled water in thereservoir 16 flows out into the receptacle 32 through conduit 34. Waterin the housing 24 drains back to the reservoir 16. Since this flow offluid out of the reservoir 16 would cause the microswitch 30 to causethe valve 14 to open, a simple relay 35 is employed in a series typeelectrical connection 3 which prevents the valve 14 from openingwhenever the valve 36 is open.

Valve 36 remains open for a suitable period as determined by the timer,after which time it closes. The valve 14 then opens so as to fill thereservoir 16. The timer permits a suitable period to elapse, after Whichthe valve 36 closes. At the end of this interval, a suitable vacuumapparatus of any convenient construction is actuated and thisvacuum-inducing apparatus (not shown) may be controlled by the timer 40or any other suitable timing means. The vacuum-inducing apparatus may beconnected by a suitable hose 41 to a conduit 42 which is connected to acylindrical member 44 forming the main syphoning means of the invention.This syphoning means, which can be best seen in FIGURE 2, includes thecylindrical valve chamber 44 which has a valve seat 46 which may beintegrally formed therewith and which has a conduit 48 connecting thechamber 44 to a conduit 50 which extends into the receptacle 32 apredetermined distance so as to assure that a given amount of fluid inthe receptacle 32 will be syphoned off due to the action of thesyphoning means. An overflow tank 52 is of course provided.

Within the chamber 44 is a valve member 54 which may be made of softrubber, or the like, and which is connected by means of a rod 56 to asoft iron core 58 which is adapted to be actuated by a coil 60 connectedto the source of electrical supply, as at 62, and which is controlled bythe timer 40 or any other convenient timing means. When the valve 54 islifted oif the valve seat 55, the vacuum-inducing means can causesyphoning action and the withdrawal of fluid from the receptacle 32.

The cycle of operation repeats after each given interval so that, aftereach settling period, a known amount of fluid is added to the receptacle32 and then syphoned oif to a predetermined level, thereby removing andautomatically washing the sand until the clay content thereof has beenremoved.

The operation of the reservoir 16, float chamber 24, switch 30, solenoidactuated inlet and outlet valves 14 and 36, timer 40, and relay 35 isnow believed apparent.

The system operates automatically to collect exactly measured quantitiesof water in the reservoir 16, and to discharge them at intervals to thereceptacle 32. The relay 35 prevents opening of inlet valve 14 whileoutlet valve 36 is open, but allows instantaneous opening of the inletvalve when the outlet valve closes so as to refill the reservoir withits measured charge of water. The

float 28 is movable in a substantially closed separate float chamber inwhich the water level is the same as in the reservoir. The reservoir 16is closed so that the measured charges of water, or other liquid, wherethe system is used for other purposes, is protected from the air.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved liquid measuring means in such full, clear, concise andexact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for measuring out and discharging accurately controlledquantities of liquid, comprising a reservoir having a liquid inletconnection, a liquid outlet connection near the bottom thereof, and aflow passage having an inlet port within said reservoir at the desiredupper level of liquid therein and a portion exterior of said reservoir,said reservoir except for said inlet and outlet connections and saidflow passage being sealed whereby when said inlet connection is open andsaid outlet connection is closed, liquid flows into said receptacle anddisplaces air through said passage until the level of liquid in saidreservoir reaches the inlet port of said passage and thereafter liquidis displaced through said passage, and 'when said inlet connection isclosed and said outlet connection is open liquid flows by gravity out ofsaid reservoir, and air is admitted to said reservoir solely throughsaid passage, a float housing located laterally of said reservoir, saidflow passage connecting to the bottom of said float housing, a float insaid float housing adapted to rest on the bottom of said housing andhaving limited clearance with respect to the side and bottom wallsthereof so that admission of a small quantity of liquid causes verticalmovement of said float, switch means operably associated with said floatand actuated by limited movement thereof away from the bottom of saidhousing, and a solenoid actuated inlet valve in said. inlet connectionadapted to be closed upon actuation of said switch by upward movement ofsaid float.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a solenoid actuated outletvalve in said outlet connection, a circuit in control of said outletvalve including a relay elfective to prevent opening of said inlet valveby actuation of said switch means upon downward movement of said floatwhile said outlet valve is open.

3. Apparatus for measuring out and discharging accurately controlledquantities of liquid, comprising a reservoir having a liquid inletconnection, a liquid outlet connection near the bottom thereof, and aflow passage having an inlet port within said reservoir at the desiredupper level of liquid therein and a portion exterior of said reservoir,said reservoir except for said inlet and outlet connections and saidflow passage being sealed whereby said inlet connection is open and saidoutlet connection is closed, liquid flows into said receptacle anddisplaces air through said passage until the level of liquid in saidreservoir reaches the inlet port of said passage and thereafter Water isdisplaced through said passage, and when said inlet connection is closedand said outlet connection is open liquid flows by gravity out of saidreservoir, and air is admitted to said reservoir solely through saidpassage, a float housing located laterally of said reservoir, said flowpassage connecting to the bottom of said float housing, a float in saidfloat housing having limited clearance with respect to the side andbottom walls thereof so that admission of a small quantity of liquidcauses vertical movement of said float, and switch means operablyassociated with said float and actuated by limited movement thereof awayfrom the bottom of said housing, a solenoid actuated inlet valve in saidinlet connection adapted to be closed upon actuation of said switch byupward movement of said float, a solenoid actuated outlet valve in saidoutlet connection, a timer for periodically actuating said outlet valveto open the same, and a switch actuated by opening of said outlet valveeflective to prevent opening of said inlet valve by actuation of saidfloat controlled switch means while said outlet valve is open.

4. Apparatus for accumulating accurately metered quantities of liquidand discharging it, comprising a reservoir having an inlet passage, andoutlet passage and a float connection passage connected thereto, saidoutlet passage having a port opening within said reservoir adjacent thebottom thereof, said float connection passage having a port within saidreservoir at the desired upper level of liquid therein, a normallyclosed solenoid actuated inlet valve in said inlet passage, a normallyclosed solenoid actuated outlet valve in said outlet passage, a floatchamber located laterally and exteriorly of said reservoir, said floatconnection passage being connected to the lower part of said floatchamber, a float in said chamber, a normally open switch in series withthe solenoid of said inlet valve and located in position to be actuatedto closed position upon a rise of said float, a timer switch forperiodically energizing the solenoid of said outlet valve for a shortinterval to open said outlet valve to provide for emptying saidreservoir by gravity flow, and a relay having its winding in series withthe solenoid of said outlet valve and normally closed contacts in serieswith the solenoid of said inlet valve to prevent opening of said inletvalve while said outlet valve is open an? to open said inlet valve uponclosure of said outlet va ve.

5. Apparatus for accumulating accurately metered quantities of liquidand discharging it, comprising a reservoir having an inlet passage, anoutlet passage and a float connection passage connected thereto, saidoutlet passage having a port opening within said reservoir adjacent thebottom thereof, said float connection passage having a port within saidreservoir at the desired upper level of liquid therein, said reservoirbeing sealed except for the aforesaid passages so that during filling ofsaid reservoir to the level of the inlet port of said float connectionpassage, said float connection passage constitutes an air vent, anormally closed solenoid actuated inlet valve in said inlet passage, anormally closed solenoid actuated outlet valve in said outlet passage, afloat chamber located laterally and exteriorly of said reservoir, saidfloat connection passage being connected to the lower part of said floatchamber, a float in said chamber, a normally open switch in series withthe solenoid of said inlet valve and located in position to be actuatedto closed position upon a rise of said float, a timer switch forperiodically energizing the solenoid of said outlet valve for a shortinterval to open said outlet valve to provide for emptying saidreservoir by gravity flow, and a relay having its winding in series withthe solenoid of said outlet valve and normally closed contacts in serieswith the solenoid of said inlet valve to prevent opening of said inletvalve while said outlet valve is open and to open said inlet valve uponclosure of said outlet valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,503,691 Love Aug. 5, 1924 1,907,001 Peter May 2, 1933 2,867,354Tanzola et a1. Jan. 6, 1959 2,893,595 Hebard et a1. July 7, 19592,901,008 Cavett et a1 Aug. 25, 1959

